Girl Scouts of Connecticut to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Woman of Merit

July 9, 2013

Girl Scouts of Connecticut will celebrate partnerships that make the world a better place at the 20th Anniversary Woman of Merit dinner, being held on Thursday, September 12, from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Stamford Hilton in Stamford.

The Woman of Merit award recognizes leaders who demonstrate the Girl Scout values of leadership, personal achievement, and service to the community. It is given in honor of Alice Pattison Merritt, an extraordinary public leader who became the first woman elected to the Connecticut Senate and who was instrumental in bringing Girl Scouting to girls in Connecticut. Friends, business partners and supporters are invited to the Woman of Merit dinner for an evening of fun while supporting Girl Scouting’s leadership development programs for young women. This year, Emmy-award winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Diane Smith will serve as emcee for the evening’s festivities.

Girl Scouts of Connecticut will be honoring IBM’s Chief Information Officer Jeanette Horan. Ms. Horan’s organization supports operational excellence and drives IBM’s transformation agenda – focusing on business transformation, workforce transformation, and IT transformation. Her organization is responsible for equipping IBMers with the technology and tools they need to better support clients and achieve IBM’s objectives.

“We are honored to award this year’s Woman of Merit to Jeanette Horan,” said Mary Barneby, CEO, Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “Jeanette Horan represents the leadership and civic responsibility that Alice Pattison Merritt exhibited so many years ago. We are thrilled to recognize Jeanette’s outstanding achievements, as she will serve as an inspiration to our girls who aspire to reach this level of success in the science and technology fields.”

Net proceeds from the dinner will support programming that helps girls in grades K - 12 bring out the best in themselves and their communities. Approximately 30% of Girl Scouts in Connecticut live in Fairfield County. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience offers girls the lifetime skills they need to discover their personal best; connect with others to build healthy relationships; and take action in their communities to make the world a better place.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, and to date, Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s Woman of Merit has commitments by several sponsors, including Webster Bank.

Tickets are $200 per person and a special price of $150 is available for Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s adult volunteers. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit the event webpage or call 860-522-0163 ext. 3230.